Cigarette case



W. TSCHATSCH CIGARETTE CASE Sept. 11, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 22, 1960 H x. 3M W W 1 m w M nw Y B /4 T TORNE Y5 Se t. 11, 1962 w. TSCHATSCH 3,053,382

CIGARETTE CASE Filed Dec. 22, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2i INV EN TOR. MLHELM TSCHAT'S Ch ATTQRNEYS United States Patent 3,053,382 CIGARETTE CASE Wrllrehn Tschatsch, Offenbach (Main), Germany, assignor of one-l1alf to Gebr. Tschatsch, Offenbach (Main), Germany, a German firm, and one-half to Randolph'- Rand Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 22, 1960, Ser. No. 77,705 Claims. (Cl. 206-412) This invention relates to cigarette cases and more particularly, to cigarette cases of the type having a container or pouch-like portion and a flap for covering the opening of the container or pouch when the case is to be closed.

Cigarette cases of the above type, as heretofore known,

which have the opening in the case located at a level of or higher than the tops of the cigarettes made the cigarettes relatively inaccessible, and cigarette cases, the opening of which is located below the level of the tops of the cigarettes, do not afford adequate protection to the cigarettes. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to proved a new and improved cigarette case of the above type which will substantially overcome the aforementioned disadvantages. A further object of the present invention is to provide a cigarette case in the form of a container or pouch-like member having a closure flap and a frame loosely positioned within the container or'pouch for receiving the cigarettes, means being associated with the frame and the flap which will effect partial lifting of the frame within the container or pouch when the flap is opened to make the cigarettes readily accessible for use.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a cigarette case of the type described that can be manufactured in large quantities at a relatively low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front plan view, with parts broken away, of a wallet-type cigarette case made in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a right end elevational view of the case shown in FIGURE '1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the cigarette case shown in FIG. 1 in an opened position, with parts broken away;

FIG. 4 is a right end elevational view of the device shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a front plan view of a slightly modified form of a box or pack-type cigarette case made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a right end elevational view of the case shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a front plan view, with parts broken away, of the case shown in FIG. 6 in an open position; and

FIG. 9 is a right end elevational view of the case shown in FIG. 8.

Referring now to the drawing, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 5 thereof, a cigarette case '10 made in accordance with one form of the present invention is shown to include a main body member 12 in the form of a pouch or wallet having a closure flap 14 hingedly formed therewith for movement between a normally closed and an open position. The front of the main body member 12 defines an upwardly extending flexible flap 16 which will yield sufficiently to facilitate the insertion and removal of cigarettes during use.

A substantially U-shaped frame having a pair of sides 18 and a connecting bight portion 19, is supported longitudinally slidable within the main body member 12 for reciprocating longitudinal movement between the inwardly positioned position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and a partially outwardly withdrawn or lifted position as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Additional frame elements 20 rigidify the U-shaped frame and provide a carriage for supporting a row of upstanding cigarettes 22 upon the bight portion 19 which serves as a tray therefor. An arm member 24 having an angularly related portion 26 at one end, is pivotally connected to the free end of each one of the side frame elements 18 by means of a transversely extending hinge pin 28.

The outer free end of the flap 14 is provided with a tubular portion 32 within which a cross piece 30 extending between the free ends of the arms 24 is securely enclosed. A bendable section 34 forming the juncture between the main body member and flap, serves as a hinge for rotating the flap 14 between the normally closed and open position. 'It will be noted that in the closed position, the axis of rotation of the hinge pin 28 substantially coincides with the axis of rotation of the flap 14 about the bendable portion 34. However, because of the angular relationship of the extension 26 with each arm 24, the juncture 27 thereof serves as a fulcrum first eccentrically to move the hinge pin 28 out of concentricity with the hinge axis of the bendable portion 34, and then to effect the lifting of the frame 18 upon movement of the flap 14 to the fully open position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in which position such outward movement of the frame is necessitated by the fixed length or width of the bendable portion 34' and the shortened effective length of the arms due to the angularly related portions 26 thereof resulting from the pivoting action about the formed fulcrum 27.

It will thus be recognized that the cigarette supporting carriage or tray is moved partly outwardly of the main body member to facilitate the insertion or removal of the cigarettes 22 as may be required. Upon returning the closure flap to the closed position, the arms 24 will return the carriage or tray to the original position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In FIGS. 6 to 9 of the drawing, a slightly modified casing 40 according to the present invention is shown for supporting a pack of cigarettes for similar movement. In this embodiment the casing body 42 is similarly provided with a closure flap 44 having an intermediate bendable portion 58 of relatively fixed length which is at first bendable concentrically with the hinge pins 56 connecting a pair of arms 52 and rigid closure plate portion 54 to the sides 48 of a U-shaped frame member. This frame member forms a carriage having a shelf or tray 50 upon which a full package of cigarettes may be supported.

The front wall of the casing body 42 is provided with a cutout 46 to facilitate access to the package of cigarettes carried by the movable frame. The rigid arms 52 are enclosed within the sides 45 of the closure flap 44 and thus are relatively stationary with respect thereto.

It will now be recognized that as the closure flap 44 is moved from the closed position shown in FIGS. 6 to 7 to the open position shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, there is suflicient rigidity in the bendable hinge section 58 to prevent shortening thereof, thus causing the juncture point between the straight part of the arms 45 and the angularly related portions thereof to form a fulcrum about which the hinge pins 56 are eccentrically moved with respect to the hinge axis of the closure to effect limited longitudinal movement of the carriage supporting the package of cigarettes thereupon. A recess 43 in casing body 42 serves to receive hinge pins 56- when flap 44 is closed. Also, upon return of the closure flap 44 to the closed position, the arms 52 will return the carriage to the downwardly depressed position as shown in FIGS.

6 and 7. Recesses 43 in casing body 42 receive pins 56 when the flap is closed.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to the construction shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such is not to be constructed as imparting limitations upon the invention, which is best defined by the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A cigarette case comprising, in combination, a casing having an upwardly opening compartment, a closure flap extending from said casing integral therewith and including a bendable portion adjacent to the casing, said bendable portion constituting a hinge axis for movement of the flap between a closed position and an open position, a carrier for carrying upstanding cigarettes slidably supported within said casing for longitudinal movement Within and in reference to the casing between an initial low position and a raised position, and a rigid arm member having a substantially straight portion and an angularly related portion, the straight portion being secured at its end to said flap for movement therewith and the angularly related portion being hingedly connected at its end to said carrier at the top end thereof for pivotal movement of the arm member about an axis substantially common to the hinge axis of said flap when the latter is in its closed position, the junction between said straight and angularly related portions of the arm member matching the curvature of the flap in its closed position, said arm member shifting its pivot axis from said substantially common position to a position raised above the hinge axis of said flap upon movement of the flap from the closed position to the open position and said junction defining a fulcrum about which said hinged connection of said carrier and said arm member is displaced in response to movement of said flap to said open position, said shifting movement of the pivot axis of said arm member being translated into a longitudinal movement of said carrier partly outward of said compartment.

2. A cigarette case as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bendable portion overlies said angularly related portion of the arm member, the arcuate length of said bendable portion exceeding the length of said angularly related portion whereby movement of said flap into said open position about said hinge axis effects pivotal movement of said arm member about said fulcrum, said hinge axis and said fulcrum being eccentric whereby said pivotal movement of said arm member effects said longitudinal movement of the carrier out of said compartment.

3. A cigarette case as set forth in claim 1 wherein said carrier comprises a U-shaped frame having a central bight portion and side portions to define a shelf for supporting cigarettes, and wherein two arm members are provided, each pivotally connected to one side of said U-shaped frame.

4. A cigarette case as set forth in claim 3 wherein a crossbar extends between the ends of the straight portions of the arm members, said cross bar being at least partly enclosed within the free end of said flap opposite the bendable portion thereof.

5. A cigarette case as set forth in claim 1, wherein said casing includes recesses receiving said hinge connection when the flap is closed.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 554,140 Pittman Feb. 14, 1896 1,505,748 Tamis Aug. 19, 1924 1,680,324 Danville Aug. 14, 1928 2,169,572 Tanzi Aug. 15, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS 400,095 Germany Aug. 12, 1924 

